The Third Congressional District includes Anderson, Bradley, Claiborne, Grainger, Hamilton, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Union counties, and parts of Jefferson and Roane counties.

The congressman said although the federal deficit is “skyrocketing,” he’s “very proud of Anderson County” and new projects that will impact the county’s economic development future.

He talked briefly about TVA’s modular nuclear reactors program approved for the Clinch River Breeder site in Oak Ridge and the recent commitment of the Department of Energy to put the Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12.

He said the new Volkswagen facility put 2,500 jobs in Hamilton County and the UPF “will be nine Volkswagens, and we got it.”

“It’s the single largest construction project in the history of Tennessee,” he said.

Fleischmann said he supports the Second Amendment and thinks the gun bill will not get through the House. He said he thinks the mental health issue should be the priority, adding “we have to make sure our kids are safe.”

He said he didn’t know the full impact of the Affordable Health Care Act and how it will affect the state or county budgets, but “unfortunately, the cost of health care will go up.”

He also said he doesn’t support federal regulations, stating, “we have to cherish the free enterprise system.”

The congressman also addressed the drug situation most counties in Tennessee and in other states face, and the possible cutting of federal grant money that counties receive for reimbursement for criminal assistance programs.

“I’ve heard in every county about drugs, specifically meth and prescription drugs,” Fleischmann said. “It’s a horrific problem. I don’t know a solution.”

However, the congressman said drug education “should start at home, schools, churches and communities.”

Fleischmann talked about roads and infrastructure when asked about many county road repairs not being done, stating “we need to find ways to properly fund infrastructure.” He said the U.S. has the opportunity to be “100 percent energy independent” and revenues from coal, oil and natural gas could benefit roads and infrastructure.

“But we can’t borrow,” he said. “That’s been our great weakness.”

The congressman said “nothing surprises me in Washington,” when asked about the upcoming sequester. He said the sequester would be like when the Bush tax cuts expired. He said it would happen “unless something changes it.”